Vacuum-tight seal.



E. E. EBY.

VACUUM TIGHT SEAL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6. 1915.

1,223,777, Patented Apr. 24, 1917.

wmuzsszs: mv OR Ear/ E y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EARL E. EBY, OF -WILKIN SBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELEC- TRIO AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

VACUUM-TIGHT SEAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 24, 1917.

Application filed July 6, 1915. Serial No. 38,119.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, EARL E. Eur, a citizen of the llnited States, and a resident of lVilkinsbm in the county of Allegheny and State or Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Vacuumlight Seals, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to methods of and means for producing vacuum tight seals between closely fitting members, such as are required, for example, between the body and the cover of a metal-case vapor converter, and it'has for its object to provide a device of the character specified which shall be simple and inexpensive to manufacture and highly etlective in operation.

' sectio ln the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a sectional view of a portion of a vapor converter, together with a vapor-spraying device for applying a cohesive coating thereto; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a finished seal constructed in accordance with one f n of ray invention; and Fig. 3 is a riew of a finished seal embodying ition of my invention.

in manufacture of exhausted containers of large size, such, for example, as are employed connection with vapor converters or the metal-case type, it is necessary to employ a plurality of closely fitted and ccacting members with sealing means applied to the joints therebetween. It has hitherto been common practice to seal joints or" character specified by means of mer cury or organic materials, such, for ere ample, asshellacs, gums, waxes or resins. it has been found to be a somewhat diilicult matter to obtain such a close mechanical fit between the various members of a container of the character specified that, under the influence of great temperature ranges, small spaces were not opened up, through which the sealing material was drawn into the container, with subsequent vaporization and harmful effects upon the vacuum. I have found that, by the use of a metal spray, wherein a. small wire or rod of any suitable material is fused and blown in any desired direction, a thirq tough and closely adherent coating or bridge of metal may be provided across a joint of the character specified and, if suitable metals are chosen for the material of the spray, a tight seal results. If, for closer coherence with the body of the container, it is desired to employ a material for the spray which is somewhat pervious 0r porous in nature in deposition, 1 find that, by subsequently applying a coating of sealing material, such, for example, as shellac or gum, over said metal bridge, a joint may be produced which is capable of withstanding considerable mechanical strain and which, atthe same time, will not permit the passage of gas or organic material into the interior of the container,

Referring to the accompanying drawing for a more detailed understanding of my invention, l have shown the body of the container of a vapor converter or similar evacuated device at d in Fig. l. A cover 5 is placed upon the container body d and is rigidly maintained in place thereupon by any suitable means, such, for example, as bolts or clamps (not shown). The joint between the members l and 5 is preferably hollowed out at its edge to form a V-shaped groove, as shown at 6. A metal spraying device 7, such as shown, for example, in U. Patent 1,128,175, issued to E. Morf, is then operated opposite the groove 6 to deposit a closely adherent film or layer of sealing material 8 therein, as shown in Figs. 1 and Briefly described, the device coniprises an inner tube 9 through which a rod or wire 10 of the material to be deposited may be projected forward at any desired rate, T he tube 9 is surrounded by a second tube 11 and a combustible gas of any desired nature is supplied through the annular space therebetween. A still larger tube 12 surrounds the tube 11, and air, under considerable pressure, is projected through the annular space thus formed. is a result, a concentric flame or blast is provided around the end of the wire 10, fusing the latter and projecting the substance thereof either in small particles or as a vapor in a spray 13. It has been found that, by properly adjusting the pressure and temperature of the flame and that, by the choice of suitable substances, the material of the spray 13 will be deposited to form a closely adherent coating.

lit is frequently desired to employ, for the bridge or layer 8, a material which is deposited in a more or less porous state, and l find that, by applying a layer of shellac or gum thereover, as shown-at 1st in Fig. 3, a seal may be produced having the essential lilo requisites of strength and tightness, it being found that the material of the layer 14 is not drawn through the pores of the layer '8 at the maximumobtainable vacuum.

I have shown the application of a sealing layer .within a V-shaped groove. because of the protection from mechanical injury and the self-locking efiect attendant thereupon, but a sealing layer of the character described may be applied with good results over joints of any character, provided suitable means are provided for preventing ex .cessive lateral displacements between the two members-t0 be joined.

I may, if found desirable, employ a spray- -'ing device in which the fusing heat is pro I tight seal prises bringing said members into close meduced by an electric arc and, furthermore,

- areimposed by the prior art or are'specifically set forth in the appended claims. I claim as my invention:

1. The rocess for producing a vacuum:

tween two members which comchanical union and then spraying a layer of metal over the line of contact.

2. The process for producing a vacuumtight seal between two members which comprises bringing said members into close mechanical union and then depositing a layer of metal over the line of contact by a fusing spray.

j 3. The process for producing a vacuumtight seal between two members which comprises bringing said members into close mechanical union, spraying a layer of metal over the line of contact, and then covering said layer with a coating of sealing materia 4. The process for producing a vacuumtight seal between two members which comprises bringing said members into close mechanical union, depositing a layer of metal over the line of contact by means of a fusing spray, and then covering 'said layer with a coatlng of sealing material.

5. A vacuum-tight container comprisin a pluralit of closely fitting members, an

a layer 0 spray deposited'metal over the lines of union thereof. v

6. A vacuum-tight container comprising a plurality of closely fitting members, a

layer of spray deposited metal over the lines of union thereof, anda coating of sealing material over said metallic layer.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 28th day of June, 1915.

EARL E; EBY. 

